Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome: a Current Review

AbstractPurpose of ReviewThe diagnosis of Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS), a refractory epileptic encephalopathy, is often made late into disease progression based on the absence of classic EEG abnormalities or typical seizure types at disease onset. The goal of this article is to serve as a general review of LGS for the non-neurologist. As such, we hope to elucidate how a diagnosis is made, highlight novel treatment options, and encourage collaborative treatment decisions between care givers, primary care physicians, neurologists, and psychiatrists.Recent FindingsAlthough a relatively limited number of randomized clinical trials have been performed to date, in recent years, two novel antiepileptics, rufinamide and clobazam, have shown promising efficacy in the treatment of this refractory epileptic encephalopathy.SummaryIdeally, after reading this review, the non-neurologist will feel equipped to recognize suspicion for an epileptic encephalopathy in a pediatric patient and subsequently refer that child to an epileptologist.

Source: Current Pediatrics Reports - February 21, 2017 Category: Pediatrics Source Type: research